Image reading apparatus and image reading system

ABSTRACT

An image reading apparatus includes an output tray that receives a medium which is output thereon; an output roller pair that outputs the medium onto the output tray; an output-tray posture switching portion that switches a posture of the output tray with respect to the apparatus body; and an output-direction switching portion that switches an output direction of the medium by using the output roller pair. The output roller pair includes an output driving roller, and an output driven roller that nips the medium between the output driven roller and the output driving roller and that follows the rotation of the output driving roller. The output-direction switching portion switches the output direction of the medium by displacing a rotation center of the output driven roller around a rotation center of the output driving roller.

BACKGROUND 1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus that reads amedium, and an image reading system including the image readingapparatus.

2. Related Art

A scanner is described below as an example of an image readingapparatus. A scanner may be provided with an auto document feeder (ADF)that automatically feeds a document which is an example of a medium, andautomatically feed and read a plurality of documents.

In this case, the form of a document transport path largely affects thesize of the installation space for the apparatus and transportability ofdocuments. For example, if a feed tray that supports documents to be fedis tilted, the installation space for the apparatus can be smaller thanthat with a horizontal feed tray. Also, if the document transport pathis entirely straight, a document with high rigidity can be properlytransported.

An image reading apparatus described in JP-A-2014-86819 includes a firstsupport portion that supports a casing in a first state in which a sheettransport path is tilted with respect to a horizontal direction, and asecond support portion that supports the casing in a second state inwhich the sheet transport path is closer to the horizontal directionthan the first state.

In the first state in which the casing is supported by the first supportportion, the sheet transport path is tilted with respect to thehorizontal direction, thereby suppressing an increase in size of theapparatus. Also, in the second state in which the casing is supported bythe second support portion, the sheet transport path is closer to thehorizontal direction than the first state, and an upper cover thatreceives a sheet to be output is in a posture substantially parallel tothe sheet transport path. When a sheet with high resilience is output,the sheet may collide with the upper cover.

An image reading apparatus configured to change its installation postureas described above is known; however, there is still room forimprovement in the following points. For a user who performs a series ofworks of setting a document on a feed tray and removing the documentoutput on an output tray (corresponding to the upper cover inJP-A-2014-86819), for example, even when the posture of the apparatus isset with regard to ease of removal for the output document, the feedtray may not be always at a desirable angle.

Moreover, when the angle of the output tray is changed, stackingefficiency for documents on the output tray may be changed, and thedocuments may not be properly stacked on the output tray.

SUMMARY

An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to address at least oneof the above problems.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided an imagereading apparatus including an apparatus body including a reader thatreads a medium; an output tray that is provided at the apparatus bodyand that receives the medium which is output thereon; an output rollerpair that outputs the medium onto the output tray; an output-trayposture switching portion that switches, independently from switching ofa posture of the apparatus body with respect to a mount surface on whichthe apparatus body is mounted, a posture of the output tray with respectto the apparatus body; and an output-direction switching portion thatswitches an output direction of the medium by using the output rollerpair.

With this aspect, since the image reading apparatus includes theoutput-tray posture switching portion that switches, independently fromthe switching of the posture of the apparatus body with respect to themount surface on which the apparatus body is mounted, the posture of theoutput tray with respect to the apparatus body, the needs of the user oftaking out a medium from the output tray can be more flexibly satisfied.

In addition, since the image reading apparatus includes the outputroller pair that outputs the medium onto the output tray, and theoutput-direction switching portion that switches the output direction ofthe medium by using the output roller pair, even when the posture of theoutput tray with respect to the apparatus body is changed, stackingefficiency for media on the output tray can be properly maintained.

In this case, the output roller pair may include an output drivingroller that is rotationally driven, and an output driven roller thatnips the medium between the output driven roller and the output drivingroller and that follows the rotation of the output driving roller; andthe output-direction switching portion may switch the output directionof the medium by displacing a rotation center of the output drivenroller around a rotation center of the output driving roller.

With this aspect, since the output-direction switching portion mayswitch the output direction of the medium by displacing the rotationcenter of the output driven roller around the rotation center of theoutput driving roller, the output-direction switching portion canreliably switch the output direction of the medium.

In this case, the output-direction switching portion may be provideddownstream of the output roller pair, and switch the output direction ofthe medium by coming into contact with the medium and changing anadvance direction of the medium.

With this aspect, since the output-direction switching portion may beprovided downstream of the output roller pair, and switch the outputdirection of the medium by coming into contact with the medium andchanging the advance direction of the medium, the output-directionswitching portion can switch the output direction of the medium with asimple configuration.

In this case, the output-tray posture switching portion may switch theposture of the output tray and the output-direction switching portionmay switch the output direction of the medium in association with theswitching of the posture of the apparatus body.

With this aspect, since the output-tray posture switching portion mayswitch the posture of the output tray and the output-direction switchingportion may switch the output direction of the medium in associationwith the switching of the posture of the apparatus body, the user doesnot have to manually switch the posture of the output tray and does nothave to manually switch the output direction of the medium, and theimage reading apparatus with high usability can be provided.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided animage reading apparatus including an apparatus body including a readerthat reads a medium; a feed tray that is provided at the apparatus bodyand that supports the medium which is set thereon; and a feed-trayposture switching portion that switches, independently from switching ofa posture of the apparatus body with respect to a mount surface on whichthe apparatus body is mounted, a posture of the feed tray with respectto the mount surface.

With this aspect, since the image reading apparatus includes thefeed-tray posture switching portion that switches, independently fromthe switching of the posture of the apparatus body with respect to themount surface on which the apparatus body is mounted, the posture of thefeed tray with respect to the mount surface, the needs of the user ofsetting a medium on the feed tray can be more flexibly satisfied.

In this case, the feed-tray posture switching portion may switch theposture of the feed tray in association with the switching of theposture of the apparatus body.

With this aspect, since the feed-tray posture switching portion mayswitch the posture of the feed tray in association with the switching ofthe posture of the apparatus body, the user does not have to manuallyswitch the posture of the feed tray, and the image reading apparatuswith high usability can be provided.

In this case, the image reading apparatus may further include a feedroller that sends the medium from the feed tray; a separation rollerthat nips the medium between the separation roller and the feed rollerand hence that separates the medium; and a separation-roller displacingportion that displaces a rotation center of the separation roller arounda rotation center of the feed roller.

With this aspect, since the image reading apparatus may include theseparation-roller displacing portion that displaces the rotation centerof the separation roller around the rotation center of the feed roller,even when the posture of the feed tray is changed with respect to themount surface, separation efficiency for media by the separation rollercan be properly maintained.

In this case, the feed-tray posture switching portion may switch theposture of the feed tray and the separation-roller displacing portionmay displace the separation roller in association with the switching ofthe posture of the apparatus body.

With this aspect, since the feed-tray posture switching portion mayswitch the posture of the feed tray and the separation-roller displacingportion may displace the separation roller in association with theswitching of the posture of the apparatus body, the user does not haveto manually switch the posture of the feed tray and does not have tomanually displace the separation roller, and the image reading apparatuswith high usability can be provided.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided an imagereading apparatus including an apparatus body including a reader thatreads a medium; and a feed tray that is provided at the apparatus bodyand that supports the medium which is set thereon. The apparatus bodyincludes a tray attachment portion that allows the feed tray to beattached thereto and detached therefrom; and one of feed trays of aplurality of types with different forms is selectable in accordance witha change in posture of the apparatus body with respect to a mountsurface on which the apparatus body is mounted.

With this aspect, since one of the feed trays of the plurality of typeswith the different forms is selectable in accordance with a change inposture of the apparatus body with respect to the mount surface on whichthe apparatus body is mounted, the needs of the user of setting a mediumon the feed tray can be more flexibly satisfied.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided animage reading system including an image reading apparatus including atray attachment portion that allows a feed tray that supports a mediumwhich is set thereon to be attachable to and detachable from anapparatus body including a reader that reads the medium; and a pluralityof the feed trays that have different forms and that each are attachableto and detachable from the tray attachment portion. One of the feedtrays of a plurality of types is selectable in accordance with a changein posture of the apparatus body with respect to a mount surface onwhich the apparatus body is mounted.

With this aspect, since one of the feed trays of the plurality of typesis selectable in accordance with a change in posture of the apparatusbody with respect to the mount surface on which the apparatus body ismounted, the needs of the user of setting a medium on the feed tray canbe more flexibly satisfied.

In this case, the plurality of feed trays with the different forms mayhave different tilt angles with respect to the apparatus body.

With this aspect, since the plurality of feed trays with the differentforms may have the different tilt angles with respect to the apparatusbody, when the needs of the user who sets a medium on one of the feedtrays are a change in posture of the feed tray, this configurationsatisfies the needs.

In this case, the plurality of feed trays with the different forms mayinclude a feed tray having a flat support surface that supports themedium.

With this aspect, since the plurality of feed trays with the differentforms may include the feed tray having the flat support surface thatsupports the medium, a medium is not hooked to the feed tray when themedium is set on the feed tray.

In this case, the plurality of feed trays with the different forms mayinclude a feed tray not provided with edge guides that guide side edgesof the medium which is set on the feed tray.

With this aspect, since the plurality of feed trays with the differentforms may include the feed tray not provided with the edge guides thatguide the side edges of the medium which is set on the feed tray, amedium is not hooked to the edge guides when the medium is set on thefeed tray.

In this case, the plurality of feed trays with the different forms mayinclude a feed tray provided with edge guides that guide side edges ofthe medium which is set on the feed tray; and guide portions thatconstitute the edge guides and that restrict the side edges may beconfigured to be switched between a first state in which the guideportions restrict the side edges, and a second state in which the guideportions fall from the first state and protruding amounts of the guideportions from a support surface that supports the medium are decreased.

With this aspect, since the guide portions that constitute the edgeguides and that restrict the side edges may be configured to be switchedbetween the first state in which the guide portions restrict the sideedges, and the second state in which the guide portions fall from thefirst state and the protruding amounts of the guide portions from thesupport surface that supports the medium are decreased, a medium is nothooked to the edge guides when the medium is set on the feed tray.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein like numbers reference like elements.

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a scanner for explaining thebasic configuration of the scanner according to each embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing a medium feed path in thescanner.

FIG. 3 provides schematic views showing switching from a first postureto a second posture of a scanner according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 4 provides schematic views explaining switching of the postures ofa feed tray and an output tray when the scanner according to the firstembodiment is in the second posture.

FIG. 5 provides schematic views explaining an output-tray postureswitching portion and an output-direction switching portion in thescanner according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 provides schematic views explaining a feed-tray posture switchingportion and a separation-roller displacing portion in the scanneraccording to the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing a motion path of a hand of a user inthe second posture according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 provides schematic views showing an output-direction switchingportion according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 9 provides schematic views showing switching from a first postureto a second posture of a scanner according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 10 provides schematic views explaining an output-tray postureswitching portion and a feed-tray posture switching portion in thescanner according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 11 provides schematic views showing switching from a first postureto a second posture of a scanner according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 12 provides schematic views showing switching from a first postureto a second posture of a scanner according to a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 13 provides schematic views showing a tray attachment portion of ascanner, and a first-posture feed tray attached to the tray attachmentportion according to a sixth embodiment.

FIG. 14 provides schematic views showing a state in which asecond-posture feed tray is attached to the tray attachment portion ofthe scanner according to the sixth embodiment, and a state in which along-medium feed tray is attached to the tray attachment portion.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing a state in which a feed trayhaving a flat support surface for a medium is attached to the trayattachment portion of the scanner according to the sixth embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing a state in which a feed tray notprovided with edge guides is attached to the tray attachment portion ofthe scanner according to the sixth embodiment.

FIG. 17 provides perspective views showing a state in which a feed traythat allows edge guides to be attached to and detached from the feedtray is attached to the tray attachment portion of the scanner accordingto the sixth embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view showing a feed tray having foldableedge guides.

FIG. 19 provides schematic views showing switching from a first postureto a second posture of a scanner according to a seventh embodiment.

FIG. 20 provides schematic views explaining a state in which thepressing force of a separation roller is adjusted in accordance with theposture of a feed tray in the scanner according to the seventhembodiment.

FIG. 21 provides schematic views explaining a state in which theseparation load of the separation roller is adjusted in accordance withthe posture of the feed tray in the scanner according to the seventhembodiment.

FIG. 22 is a perspective view of a scanner according to an eighthembodiment.

FIG. 23 provides side views of a scanner according to a ninthembodiment.

FIG. 24 is a perspective view of a first posture of a scanner accordingto a tenth embodiment.

FIG. 25 is a perspective view of a second posture of the scanneraccording to the tenth embodiment.

FIG. 26 provides schematic views explaining the entry range of lightentering an apparatus body of a scanner according to an eleventhembodiment.

FIG. 27 provides schematic views explaining a limited state in which theentry range of light entering the apparatus body is limited by a firstlight-shielding member and a second light-shielding member in thescanner according to the eleventh embodiment.

FIG. 28 provides schematic views of an association portion thatassociates the first light-shielding member with a feed tray in thescanner according to the eleventh embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to thedrawings. The same reference signs are applied to the sameconfigurations in the respective embodiments. Such a configuration isdescribed only in the embodiment it appears first, and the descriptionis omitted in the later embodiments.

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a scanner for explaining thebasic configuration of the scanner according to each embodiment; FIG. 2is a side sectional view showing a medium feed path in the scanner; FIG.3 provides schematic views showing switching from a first posture to asecond posture of a scanner according to a first embodiment; and FIG. 4provides schematic views explaining switching of the postures of a feedtray and an output tray when the scanner according to the firstembodiment is in the second posture.

FIG. 5 provides schematic views explaining an output-tray postureswitching portion and an output-direction switching portion in thescanner according to the first embodiment; FIG. 6 provides schematicviews explaining a feed-tray posture switching portion and aseparation-roller displacing portion in the scanner according to thefirst embodiment; FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing a motion path of ahand of a user in the second posture according to the first embodiment;and FIG. 8 provides schematic views showing an output-directionswitching portion according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 9 provides schematic views showing switching from a first postureto a second posture of a scanner according to a third embodiment; FIG.10 provides schematic views explaining an output-tray posture switchingportion and a feed-tray posture switching portion in the scanneraccording to the third embodiment; FIG. 11 provides schematic viewsshowing switching from a first posture to a second posture of a scanneraccording to a fourth embodiment; and FIG. 12 provides schematic viewsshowing switching from a first posture to a second posture of a scanneraccording to a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 13 provides schematic views showing a tray attachment portion of ascanner, and a first-posture feed tray attached to the tray attachmentportion according to a sixth embodiment; FIG. 14 provides schematicviews showing a state in which a second-posture feed tray is attached tothe tray attachment portion of the scanner according to the sixthembodiment, and a state in which a long-medium feed tray is attached tothe tray attachment portion; FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing astate in which a feed tray having a flat support surface for a medium isattached to the tray attachment portion of the scanner according to thesixth embodiment; and FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing a state inwhich a feed tray not provided with edge guides is attached to the trayattachment portion of the scanner according to the sixth embodiment.

FIG. 17 provides perspective views showing a state in which a feed traythat allows edge guides to be attached to and detached from the feedtray is attached to the tray attachment portion of the scanner accordingto the sixth embodiment; FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view showing afeed tray having foldable edge guides; FIG. 19 provides schematic viewsshowing switching from a first posture to a second posture of a scanneraccording to a seventh embodiment; and FIG. 20 provides schematic viewsexplaining a state in which the pressing force of a separation roller isadjusted in accordance with the posture of a feed tray in the scanneraccording to the seventh embodiment.

FIG. 21 provides schematic views explaining a state in which theseparation load of the separation roller is adjusted in accordance withthe posture of the feed tray in the scanner according to the seventhembodiment; FIG. 22 is a perspective view of a scanner according to aneighth embodiment; FIG. 23 provides side views of a scanner according toa ninth embodiment; and FIG. 24 is a perspective view of a first postureof a scanner according to a tenth embodiment.

FIG. 25 is a perspective view of a second posture of the scanneraccording to the tenth embodiment; FIG. 26 provides schematic viewsexplaining the entry range of light entering an apparatus body of ascanner according to an eleventh embodiment; FIG. 27 provides schematicviews explaining a limited state in which the entry range of lightentering the apparatus body is limited by a first light-shielding memberand a second light-shielding member in the scanner according to theeleventh embodiment; and FIG. 28 provides schematic views of anassociation portion that associates the first light-shielding memberwith a feed tray in the scanner according to the eleventh embodiment.

In the X-Y-Z coordinate system in each drawing, when a scanner 10 is ina first posture, the X-axis direction indicates an apparatus-widthdirection and a sheet-width direction, the Y-axis direction is asheet-transport direction in an image reading apparatus, and the Z-axisdirection is a direction orthogonal to the Y-axis direction and is adirection substantially orthogonal to a surface of a transported sheet.In each drawing, the +Y side is an apparatus-front-surface side, and the−Y side is an apparatus-rear-surface side. Further, the directionparallel to a surface on which the image reading apparatus is mounted isa horizontal direction. In this case, the parallel direction includesnot only a direction strictly completely parallel to the mount surface,but also a direction with a tilt or the like caused by an assembly erroror the like of the image reading apparatus.

Common Embodiment

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the basic configuration of a scanner 10 isdescribed as an image reading apparatus according to any one of first toeleventh embodiments described in this specification. The scanner 10includes an apparatus body 12, a feed tray 14, and an output tray 16.The apparatus body 12 includes a lower unit 18 and an upper unit 20. Inthis embodiment, although not shown, the upper unit 20 is attached tothe lower unit 18 so as to be rotatable relative to the lower unit 18while an end portion on the +Y side serves as a rotation axis.

A user interface portion 22 is provided on the front surface side of theupper unit 20. Note that, in the tenth embodiment (described later), theuser interface portion is a tilt panel. The user interface portion 22is, for example, a touch panel, and serves as both a display portion andan operation portion. By operating the user interface portion 22, amedium reading operation or the like of the scanner 10 can be executed.

An output port 24 is provided below the user interface portion 22 on thefront surface side of the scanner 10. The output tray 16 is providedbelow the output port 24. In this embodiment, the output tray 16 can beswitched between a state housed in the lower unit 18 (FIGS. 1 and 2) andan expanded state pulled out to the front surface side from the lowerunit 18 (for example, FIGS. 15 to 17).

Document Transport Path

Referring to FIG. 2, a medium feed path 26 in the scanner 10 isdescribed. The thick solid line with reference sign P in FIG. 2indicates a guide path for a medium that is transported along the mediumfeed path 26 in the scanner 10.

The feed tray 14 is provided at an end portion on theapparatus-rear-surface side of the lower unit 18. The feed tray 14 cansupport a medium (document) in a tilted posture. A plurality of mediacan be set on the feed tray 14. The feed tray 14 is provided with a pairof edge guides 14 a (FIG. 1) that are displaceable in a direction towardeach other or a direction away from each other. The edge guides 14 aguide the side edges of a medium stacked on the feed tray 14. Moreover,the feed tray 14 is provided with a medium detector (not shown) that candetect setting of a medium P on the feed tray 14.

A feed port 27, a feed roller 28, a separation roller 30, a transportroller pair 32, an image reading section 34 serving as “a reader,” andan output roller pair 36 are provided in the medium feed path 26 in thelower unit 18, from an upstream side (−Y side) to a downstream side (+Yside) in a medium feed direction. In this embodiment, the feed roller 28is rotationally driven by, for example, a driving source (not shown)provided in the lower unit 18.

The separation roller 30 is provided at a position facing the feedroller 28. The separation roller 30 is provided in a state urged to thefeed roller 28 by a pressing portion (not shown). The separation roller30 separates a plurality of media when the media enter an area betweenthe feed roller 28 and the separation roller 30 so as to send only thebottom medium to be fed to the downstream side in the feed direction. Amedium supported by the feed tray 14 in a tilted posture is nipped bythe feed roller 28 and the separation roller 30, and is transported tothe transport roller pair 32 arranged on the downstream side in the feeddirection. Then, the transport roller pair 32 sends the document fedfrom the feed roller 28 toward the image reading section 34.

The image reading section 34 includes a first reading unit 40A providedin the lower unit 18 to face a second surface of a medium that istransported along the medium feed path 26, and a second reading unit 40Bprovided in the upper unit 20 to face a first surface of the documentthat is transported along the medium feed path 26. In this embodiment,the first reading unit 40A and the second reading unit 40B areconfigured as a reading unit, and, for example, configured as a contactimage sensor module (CISM).

When the document is sent by the transport roller pair 32 to the imagereading section 34, an image on at least one of the first surface andthe second surface of the medium P is read by the image reading section34, then the medium P is nipped by the output roller pair 36 locateddownstream of the image reading section 34 in the transport direction,and the medium P is output from the output port 24. In this embodiment,the output roller pair 36 includes an output driving roller 36 a that isrotationally driven by a driving source (not shown), and an outputdriven roller 36 b that follows the rotation of the output drivingroller 36 a.

In FIG. 2, a controller 42 is provided in the apparatus body 12. In eachembodiment, the controller 42 is configured as an electric circuitincluding a plurality of electronic components. The controller 42according to this embodiment controls the transport and image readingoperation for the medium P in the scanner 10. The controller 42 maycontrol an operation required for executing the medium reading operationin the scanner 10, for example, in accordance with an instruction fromthe outside (personal computer (PC) or the like).

First Embodiment

A scanner 10 according to a first embodiment is described with referenceto FIGS. 3 to 6. The scanner 10 includes an apparatus body 12 and a baseportion 44. In this embodiment, the apparatus body 12 is attached to thebase portion 44 so as to be rotatable relative to the base portion 44.In this embodiment, the base portion 44 is mounted on a mount surface Gon which the scanner 10 is mounted. The thick line with reference sign Pin the upper figure in FIG. 3 and the lower figure in FIG. 4 indicates apath for a medium P that is sent from a feed tray 14 to an output tray16 along a medium feed path 26

In the upper figure in FIG. 3, the scanner 10 is in a first posture withrespect to the mount surface G. In this embodiment, the first posture isset to a posture in which the feed tray 14 is at a first tilt angle θ1(upper figure in FIG. 3) with respect to the mount surface G in thescanner 10. In each of the second to eleventh embodiments (describedlater), a first posture is set to a posture in which a feed tray is at afirst tilt angle θ1 with respect to the mount surface G like the firstembodiment.

In the upper figure in FIG. 3, when the apparatus body 12 of the scanner10 is rotated to the −Y side relative to the base portion 44, theapparatus body 12 is brought into a second posture tilted toward therear surface side as shown in the lower figure in FIG. 3. The secondposture is set to a posture in which the tilt angle of the feed tray 14with respect to the mount surface G is a second tilt angle θ2 (lowerfigure in FIG. 4) that is smaller than the first tilt angle θ1 in thefirst posture and that is close to the horizontal direction with respectto the mount surface G.

In this embodiment, the apparatus body 12 and the base portion 44 areprovided with a body posture detector 46. In this embodiment, the bodyposture detector 46 includes a switch 46 a and a pressing portion 46 b.For example, the switch 46 a is provided on the base portion 44, and thepressing portion 46 b is provided on the rear surface side of theapparatus body 12. In this embodiment, for example, when the switch 46 ais pressed by the pressing portion 46 b, the controller 42 detects adetection signal. In this embodiment, the controller 42 determines thatthe apparatus body 12 is in the second posture when the controller 42detects the detection signal from the body posture detector 46.

In the upper figure in FIG. 3, when the apparatus body 12 is in a firstposture, the switch 46 a and the pressing portion 46 b of the bodyposture detector 46 are separated from each other. In this state, thecontroller 42 does not detect the detection signal from the body posturedetector 46, and hence the controller 42 determines that the apparatusbody 12 is in the first posture. In the lower figure in FIG. 3, when theapparatus body 12 is rotated from the first posture to a second posture,the pressing portion 46 b of the body posture detector 46 presses theswitch 46 a. In this state, the controller 42 detects the detectionsignal from the body posture detector 46, and hence the controller 42determines that the apparatus body 12 is in the second posture.

In this embodiment, the feed tray 14 is rotatable relative to theapparatus body 12. Specifically, the feed tray 14 has a rotating shaft14 b which is an example of “a feed-tray posture switching portion.” Thefeed tray 14 can be switched between a first posture and a secondposture while the rotating shaft 14 b serves as the rotation axis. Therotating shaft 14 b is provided at the feed tray 14 in this embodiment;however, the rotating shaft 14 b may be provided at the apparatus body12.

In this embodiment, the output tray 16 is rotatable relative to theapparatus body 12. Specifically, the output tray 16 has a rotating shaft16 a which is an example of “an output-tray posture switching portion.”The output tray 16 can be switched between a first output posture inwhich the output tray 16 receives the medium output from the apparatusbody 12 when the apparatus body 12 is in the first posture, and a secondoutput posture in which the output tray 16 receives the medium outputfrom the apparatus body 12 when the apparatus body 12 is in the secondposture, while the rotating shaft 16 a serves as a rotation axis. Therotating shaft 16 a is provided at the output tray 16 in thisembodiment; however, the rotating shaft 16 a may be provided at theapparatus body 12.

In the upper figure in FIG. 4, in a state in which the apparatus body 12is switched from the first posture to the second posture, the feed tray14 keeps the first posture, and the output tray 16 also keeps the firstoutput posture. As shown in the lower figure in FIG. 4, the feed tray 14is rotated from the first posture to the second posture while therotating shaft 14 b serves as the rotation axis. Note that referencesign 14-1 in the lower figure in FIG. 4 indicates the feed tray 14 inthe second posture. Similarly, the output tray 16 is rotated from thefirst output posture to the second output posture while the rotatingshaft 16 a serves as the rotation axis.

Thus, the scanner 10 is switched from a first posture (normal feedposture) in which a medium P is fed from an obliquely upper side on therear surface side of the apparatus body 12 to the feed tray 14 and animage on the medium P is read, to a second posture (horizontal feedposture) in which a medium P is fed to the feed tray 14 in thehorizontal direction with respect to the mount surface G or at an anglecloser to the horizontal direction and an image on the medium P is read.

In the lower figure in FIG. 4, the feed tray 14 can be further rotatedto the −Z side from the second posture and is brought into a state withreference sign 14-2. Note that a posture of the feed tray 14 withreference sign 14-2 is a third posture. When the feed tray 14 is in thethird posture, the feed tray 14 is tilted so as to connect the apparatusbody 12 and the mount surface G to each other.

When a long medium longer than the length in the feed direction of thefeed tray 14 is fed, the long medium protruding from the feed tray 14hangs from an end portion of the feed tray 14 on the upstream side inthe feed direction toward the mount surface G. When the long medium isfed while hanging from the feed tray 14 toward the mount surface G inthis way, the medium hanging toward the mount surface G is pressed tothe edge of an end portion on the upstream side of the feed tray 14 dueto the weight of the medium, and a frictional force occurs between thefeed tray 14 and the medium hanging toward the mount surface G. Thus,the feed of the long medium is disturbed, and the medium may be damagedwhen rubbing with the edge of the end portion on the upstream side ofthe feed tray 14.

In this embodiment, the long medium longer than the feed tray 14 in thefeed direction can be fed in the third posture (see reference sign14-2). The third posture of the feed tray 14 is a posture more tiltedtoward the mount surface G than the second posture that is thehorizontal posture with respect to the mount surface G (see referencesign 14-1). Consequently, the long medium is supported by the feed tray14 from a position close to the mount surface G in a height direction,and is not pressed to the edge of the end portion on the upstream sideof the feed tray 14. The frictional force between the feed tray 14 andthe long medium can be decreased, and the medium is not damaged.

In this embodiment, by properly changing the posture of the feed tray 14to one of the first, second, and third postures, the size of the mediumto be fed into the apparatus body 12 in the feed direction can beproperly changed. Consequently, the scanner 10 according to thisembodiment can feed various kinds of media with different sizes in thefeed direction from the feed tray 14, and read the media.

Output-Direction Switching Portion

Next, an output-direction switching portion 48 is described withreference to FIG. 5. For example, the output-direction switching portion48 that switches the output direction of the medium P is provided in theapparatus body 12. The output-direction switching portion 48 includesgears 50A, 50B, and 50C, endless belts 52A and 52B, and a link member54. In this embodiment, the gear 50A is provided coaxially with therotating shaft 16 a of the output tray 16, and rotates in the samedirection as the direction of the rotating shaft 16 a.

The gear 50B is spaced from the gear 50A. In this embodiment, the gear50B is a compound gear. The endless belt 52A is wound around the gears50A and 50B spaced from each other. The gear 50C is spaced from the gear50B and supported by a rotating shaft 36 c of the output driving roller36 a. The gear 50C rotates independently from the rotation of the outputdriving roller 36 a and the rotating shaft 36 c. The endless belt 52B iswound around the gears 50B and 50C spaced from each other. One endportion of the link member 54 is attached to the gear 50C. A rotatingshaft 36 d of the output driven roller 36 b is attached to the other endportion of the link member 54.

In the upper and lower figures in FIG. 5, when the output tray 16 isrotated around the rotating shaft 16 a as the rotation axis, the gear50A rotates in the same direction as the direction of the rotating shaft16 a. The rotation of the gear 50A is transmitted to the gear 50B viathe endless belt 52A, and the gear 50B also rotates in the samedirection as the direction of the gear 50A. Further, when the gear 50Brotates, the rotation of the gear 50B is transmitted to the gear 50C viathe endless belt 52B, and the gear 50C also rotates.

When the gear 50C rotates, the link member 54 rotates in the samedirection as the direction of the gear 50C. Thus, the output drivenroller 36 b rotates relative to the output driving roller 36 a so thatthe rotating shaft 36 d of the output driven roller 36 b is displacedaround the rotating shaft 36 c of the output driving roller 36 a.

In the upper figure in FIG. 5, the output tray 16 is in the first outputposture. In this state, a tangential line S1 at a nip point N1 betweenthe output driving roller 36 a and the output driven roller 36 b extendsin the Y-axis direction. For example, the medium P output by the outputroller pair 36 advances to the +Y side along the tangential line S1, andis stacked on the output tray 16 in the first output posture. Thetwo-dot chain line with reference sign P1 indicates an output path for amedium when the output tray 16 is in the first output posture.

In the lower figure in FIG. 5, when the output tray 16 is rotated to the−Z side to switch the posture from the first output posture to thesecond output posture, the nip point N1 between the output drivingroller 36 a and the output driven roller 36 b moves counterclockwisearound the rotating shaft 36 c of the output driving roller 36 a.Consequently, the nip point between the output driving roller 36 a andthe output driven roller 36 b moves to a position of N2. Thus, atangential line S2 passing through the nip point N2 is tilted to the −Zside relative to the tangential line S1. Consequently, the medium Poutput by the output roller pair 36 advances to the +Y side along thetangential line S2, and is stacked on the output tray 16 in the secondoutput posture. The two-dot chain line with reference sign P2 indicatesan output path for a medium when the output tray 16 is in the secondoutput posture.

Thus, as shown in the upper and lower figures in FIG. 5, when theposition of the output driven roller 36 b with respect to the outputdriving roller 36 a is changed by the output-direction switching portion48 around the rotating shaft 36 c, the output direction of the medium Pcan be switched.

Separation-Roller Displacing Portion

A separation-roller displacing portion 56 is described with reference toFIG. 6. The separation-roller displacing portion 56 includes gears 58Aand 58B, an endless belt 60, and a link member 62. In this embodiment,the gear 58A is provided coaxially with the rotating shaft 14 b of thefeed tray 14, and when the rotating shaft 14 b rotates, the gear 58Arotates together in the same direction as the direction of the rotatingshaft 14 b.

The gear 58B is spaced from the gear 58A. The endless belt 60 is woundaround the gears 58A and 58B spaced from each other. The gear 58B issupported by a rotating shaft 28 a of the feed roller 28. The gear 58Brotates independently from the rotation of the feed roller 28 and therotating shaft 28 a. One end portion of the link member 62 is attachedto the gear 58B. A rotating shaft 30 a of the separation roller 30 isattached to the other end portion of the link member 62.

In the upper and lower figures in FIG. 6, when the feed tray 14 isrotated around the rotating shaft 14 b as the rotation axis, the gear58A rotates in the same direction as the direction of the rotating shaft14 b. The rotation of the gear 58A is transmitted to the gear 58B viathe endless belt 60, and the gear 58B also rotates in the same directionas the direction of the gear 58A.

When the gear 58B rotates, the link member 62 rotates in the samedirection as the direction of the gear 58B. Thus, the separation roller30 rotates relative to the feed roller 28 so that the rotating shaft 30a of the separation roller 30 is displaced around the rotating shaft 28a of the feed roller 28.

In this embodiment, when the feed tray 14 is in the first posture (upperfigure in FIG. 6), a tangential line S3 passing through a nip point N3between the feed roller 28 and the separation roller 30 is set to bealong with the feed direction of the feed tray 14 in the first posture.

In this case, when the feed tray 14 is switched from the first posture(upper figure in FIG. 6) to the second posture (lower figure in FIG. 6),the separation-roller displacing portion 56 displaces the nip pointbetween the feed roller 28 and the separation roller 30 clockwise aroundthe rotating shaft 28 a, and moves the nip point from the position ofthe nip point N3 to the position of a nip point N4. Even in this state,as shown in the lower figure in FIG. 6, a tangential line S4 passingthrough the nip point N4 is set to be along with the feed direction ofthe feed tray 14 in the second posture (state with reference sign 14-1).

Thus, as shown in the upper and lower figures in FIG. 6, when theposition of the separation roller 30 with respect to the feed roller 28is changed by the separation-roller displacing portion 56 around therotating shaft 28 a, the feed direction of the medium P can be switched.

Feed Mode

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4 again, a feed mode of the scanner 10 isdescribed. In this embodiment, the controller 42 determines switchingbetween the first posture (normal feed posture) and the second posture(horizontal feed posture) of the apparatus body 12 in accordance withdetection information from the body posture detector 46. The controller42 selects a first feed mode when the apparatus body 12 is in the firstposture, and selects a second feed mode when the apparatus body 12 is inthe second posture.

In this embodiment, in a state in which a medium P is set on the feedtray 14 (the feed tray 14 is in the first posture) of the apparatus body12 in the first posture (normal feed posture), when a user performs areading execution operation for the medium P by using the user interfaceportion 22 or an external input portion, the controller 42 selects thefirst feed mode as a mode for feeding the medium set on the feed tray 14and performing the image reading operation on the medium.

In contrast, when the controller 42 detects setting of a medium P on thefeed tray 14 (the feed tray 14 is in the second posture) of theapparatus body 12 in the second posture (horizontal feed posture) byusing a medium detector (not shown), the controller 42 selects thesecond feed mode as a mode for feeding the medium set on the feed tray14 and performing the image reading operation on the medium withoutwaiting for the reading execution operation by the user.

In this embodiment, the controller 42 is set to switch the feed modefrom the first feed mode to the second feed mode when the apparatus body12 is switched from the first posture to the second posture, and is setto switch the feed mode from the second feed mode to the first feed modewhen the apparatus body 12 is switched from the second posture to thefirst posture. Thus, since the controller 42 automatically switches thefeed mode when the user switches the posture of the scanner 10, the userdoes not have to manually switch the feed mode, and convenience of thescanner 10 can be increased.

Further, the medium feed operation when the apparatus body 12 and thefeed tray 14 are in the second posture and when the output tray 16 is inthe second output posture is described with reference to FIG. 7. In FIG.7, a large bundle of media Pb is placed on the back surface side of theapparatus body 12 in the second posture. The user sets the large bundleof media Pb on the feed tray 14 one by one from the top while checkingthe content of each document. In this embodiment, the apparatus body 12and the feed tray 14 are in the second posture, that is, are horizontalwith respect to the mount surface G or are tilted at angles close to thehorizontal direction. Hence, the user can set a medium on the feed tray14 by laterally sliding the medium from the bundle of media Pb or byholding the medium and moving the medium in the horizontal direction.Consequently, a motion path U of a hand of the user can be decreased inlength, and workability can be increased. The broken line with referencesign P in FIG. 7 indicates a medium feed path from the feed tray 14 tothe output tray 16 in the second posture (horizontal feed posture).

Although not shown in each embodiment of the third and laterembodiments, the above-described output-direction switching portion 48and separation-roller displacing portion 56 are provided in the scanneraccording to each embodiment.

Summarizing the above description, the scanner 10 includes the apparatusbody 12 having the image reading section 34 that reads a medium P; theoutput tray 16 that is provided at the apparatus body 12 and thatreceives the medium P which is output thereon; the output roller pair 36that outputs the medium P to the output tray 16; the rotating shaft 16 athat switches, independently from switching of the posture of theapparatus body 12 with respect to the mount surface G on which theapparatus body 12 is mounted, the posture of the output tray 16 withrespect to the apparatus body 12; and the output-direction switchingportion 48 that switches the output direction of the medium P by theoutput roller pair 36. With this configuration, the needs of the user oftaking out a medium from the output tray 16 can be more flexiblysatisfied. Also, even when the posture of the output tray 16 withrespect to the apparatus body 12 is changed, stacking efficiency formedia on the output tray 16 can be properly maintained.

The output roller pair 36 includes the output driving roller 36 a thatis rotationally driven, and the output driven roller 36 b that nips themedium P between the output driven roller 36 b and the output drivingroller 36 a and that follows the rotation of the output driving roller36 a. The output-direction switching portion 48 switches the outputdirection of the medium P by displacing the center of the rotating shaft36 d of the output driven roller 36 b around the center of the rotatingshaft 36 c of the output driving roller 36 a. With this configuration,the output-direction switching portion 48 can reliably switch the outputdirection of the medium P.

The rotating shaft 14 b switches the posture of the feed tray 14 inassociation with the switching of the posture of the apparatus body 12.With this configuration, since the rotating shaft 14 b switches theposture of the feed tray 14 in association with the switching of theposture of the apparatus body 12, the user does not have to manuallyswitch the posture of the feed tray 14, and the scanner 10 with highusability can be provided.

The scanner 10 includes the feed roller 28 that sends the medium fromthe feed tray 14; the separation roller 30 that separates the medium bynipping the medium P between the separation roller 30 and the feedroller 28; and the separation-roller displacing portion 56 thatdisplaces the center of the rotating shaft 30 a of the separation roller30 around the center of the rotating shaft 28 a of the feed roller 28.With this configuration, even when the posture of the feed tray 14 ischanged with respect to the mount surface G, separation efficiency formedia by the separation roller 30 can be properly maintained.

The scanner 10 includes the apparatus body 12 having the image readingsection 34 that reads a medium P; the feed tray 14 that is provided atthe apparatus body 12 and that supports the medium P which is setthereon; and the controller 42 that controls feed of the medium P fromthe feed tray 14. The controller 42 switches the feed mode when themedium P is fed from the feed tray 14 in accordance with the switchingof the posture of the apparatus body 12 with respect to the mountsurface G on which the apparatus body 12 is mounted. With thisconfiguration, the user does not have to perform an operation forswitching the feed mode in accordance with the posture of the apparatusbody 12, and the scanner 10 with high usability can be provided.

The apparatus body 12 can be switched between the first posture in whichthe feed tray 14 is at the first tilt angle θ1, and the second posturein which the feed tray 14 is at the second tilt angle θ2 that is closerto the horizontal direction than the first tilt angle θ1 or the feedtray 14 is horizontal. The feed mode includes the first feed mode thatstarts feed of the medium P based on the reading execution operation bythe user, and the second feed mode that starts feed of the medium P whensetting of the medium P on the feed tray 14 is detected. The controller42 selects the second feed mode at least when the apparatus body 12 isin the second posture.

With this configuration, the controller 42 selects the second feed mode,that is, the feed mode that starts feed of the medium P if thecontroller 42 detects setting of the medium on the feed tray 14 at leastwhen the apparatus body 12 is in the second posture. Thus, when the userperforms the work of setting the medium P on the feed tray 14, the userdoes not have to perform the reading execution operation such aspressing a reading execution button every time when the user sets themedium P, thereby increasing usability.

The controller 42 switches the feed mode from the second feed mode tothe first feed mode when the apparatus body 12 is switched from thesecond posture to the first posture. With this configuration, thecontroller 42 does not have to switch the feed mode when the first feedmode is used in the first posture, thereby increasing usability.

The scanner 10 includes the body posture detector 46 that detects theposture of the apparatus body 12 with respect to the mount surface G.The controller 42 switches the feed mode based on the detectioninformation from the body posture detector 46. With this configuration,the feed mode can be reliably switched to one suitable for the postureof the apparatus body 12.

Modifications of First Embodiment

(1) In this embodiment, the body posture detector 46 detects that theapparatus body 12 is in the second posture if the switch 46 a ispressed. However, instead of this configuration, the body posturedetector 46 may detect that the apparatus body 12 is in the firstposture if the switch 46 a and the pressing portion 46 b are separatedfrom each other.

(2) In this embodiment, the body posture detector 46 is the switch 46 athat is switched between ON and OFF with the switching of the posture ofthe apparatus body 12. However, instead of this configuration, forexample, the body posture detector 46 may be a detector, such as anacceleration sensor, a tilt sensor, or a gyro sensor that can detect theswitching of the posture of the apparatus body 12.

(3) In this embodiment, when a long medium is fed, it is desirable tofeed the long medium by switching the feed tray 14 to the third posture.Since the long medium has a larger weight than that of a medium of anormal size (for example, A4 size or the like), the load of the feedroller 28 that lifts up the long medium from the mount surface G andfeeds the long medium increases. In this case, a plurality of rollersthat are rotationally driven in association with the rotation of thefeed roller 28 may be arranged on the medium support surface of the feedtray 14. Accordingly, when the long medium is fed, by rotationallydriving the rollers and assisting feed of the long medium, the load ofthe feed roller 28 can be decreased, and the long medium can be smoothlyfed.

Second Embodiment

The above-described output-direction switching portion 48 included inthe scanner 10 may be replaced with an output-direction switchingportion 64 according to a second embodiment which is described below.The configuration of the output-direction switching portion 64 accordingto the second embodiment is described below with reference to FIG. 8.The same reference sign is applied to a configuration similar to that inthe first embodiment.

The output-direction switching portion 64 includes, for example, a cammember 66 and a link member 68. In this embodiment, the cam member 66 isattached to the rotating shaft 16 a of the output tray 16. The linkmember 68 is provided with an engagement portion 68 a. The engagementportion 68 a has a guide surface 68 b on the side facing the outputroller pair 36. The guide surface 68 b is tilted to the −Z side. In thisembodiment, the link member 68 is arranged on the +Y side of the outputroller pair 36 in the medium feed direction. A lower end portion 68 c ofthe link member 68 is engaged with the cam member 66. In thisembodiment, when the cam member 66 rotates, the link member 68vertically moves in the Z-axis direction.

In the upper figure in FIG. 8, the output tray 16 is in the first outputposture. In this state, the engagement portion 68 a of the link member68 that is engaged with the cam member 66 is located on the +Z side withrespect to a tangential line S5 passing through a nip point N5 betweenthe output driving roller 36 a and the output driven roller 36 b. Thatis, the engagement portion 68 a of the link member 68 does not cross anoutput path P3 for the medium to be output by the output roller pair 36.

In contrast, in the lower figure in FIG. 8, when the output tray 16 isrotated from the first output posture to the second output posture in adirection with an arrow (counterclockwise in the lower figure in FIG.8), the cam member 66 is rotated with the rotation of the output tray 16(rotating shaft 16 a). Consequently, the link member 68 engaged with thecam member 66 is displaced toward the −Z side.

Thus, the engagement portion 68 a intersects with the tangential line S5passing through the nip point N5 between the output driving roller 36 aand the output driven roller 36 b, and is displaced to the −Z side up tothe position at which the engagement portion 68 a crosses the tangentialline S5. Consequently, the leading end of the medium P output by theoutput roller pair 36 contacts the guide surface 68 b of the engagementportion 68 a of the link member 68, and is guided to the −Z side by theguide surface 68 b. Thus, the advance direction of the medium P ischanged to the −Z side, and is directed to the output tray 16 that is inthe second output posture. The two-dot chain line with reference sign P4indicates an output path for the medium P the direction of which ischanged by the guide surface 68 b.

The output-direction switching portion 64 is provided downstream of theoutput roller pair 36, and switches the output direction of the medium Pby coming into contact with the medium P and changing the advancedirection of the medium P. With this configuration, the output-directionswitching portion 64 can switch the output direction of the medium witha simple configuration.

Third Embodiment

The above-described base portion 44 included in the scanner 10 accordingto the first embodiment may be replaced with a first leg portion 74 anda second leg portion 76 according to a third embodiment which isdescribed below. The configuration of a scanner 70 according to thethird embodiment is described below with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10.The same reference sign is applied to a configuration similar to that inthe first embodiment.

In this embodiment, the scanner 70 includes the first leg portion 74 andthe second leg portion 76. The first leg portion 74 is provided at abottom portion of an apparatus body 72 in a first posture (normal feedposture). The first leg portion 74 is rotatable relative to theapparatus body 72 around a rotating shaft 74 a serving as a rotationaxis. The first leg portion 74 can be switched between a state housed inthe bottom portion of the apparatus body 72 (upper figure in FIG. 9),and a state pulled out from the apparatus body 72 (lower figure in FIG.9).

The second leg portion 76 is provided at an end portion on the rearsurface side of the apparatus body 72 in the first posture (normal feedposture). The second leg portion 76 is rotatable relative to theapparatus body 72 around a rotating shaft 76 a serving as a rotationaxis. The second leg portion 76 can be switched between a state housedin an end portion on the rear surface side of the apparatus body 72(upper figure in FIG. 9) and a state pulled out from the apparatus body72 (lower figure in FIG. 9).

In the lower figure in FIG. 9, the posture of the scanner 70 is switchedfrom the first posture to the second posture by lifting the apparatusbody 72 from the mount surface G, pulling out the first leg portion 74and the second leg portion 76 from the apparatus body 72, and thenmounting the apparatus body 72 on the mount surface G. In the lowerfigure in FIG. 9, the two-dot chain line portion with reference sign 16indicates the first output posture of the output tray 16, and the solidline portion with reference sign 16-1 indicates the second outputposture of the output tray 16, the two-dot chain line portion withreference sign 14 indicates the first posture of the feed tray 14, andthe solid line portion with reference sign 14-1 indicates the secondposture of the feed tray 14. Further, in the lower figure in FIG. 9, thesolid line with reference sign P6 indicates a medium feed path when thescanner 70 is in the second posture (horizontal feed posture).

An output-tray posture switching portion 78 and a feed-tray postureswitching portion 80 according to this embodiment are described withreference to FIG. 10. The output-tray posture switching portion 78includes a gear train 82 including a plurality of gears, and adjacentgears of the plurality of gears in the gear train 82 are meshed witheach other. In the gear train 82, a gear 82A is provided coaxially withthe rotating shaft 74 a of the first leg portion 74, and rotatestogether with the rotating shaft 74 a. In contrast, in the gear train82, a gear 82B is provided coaxially with the rotating shaft 16 a of theoutput tray 16, and rotates together with the rotating shaft 16 a.

In the upper figure in FIG. 10, when the first leg portion 74 is housedin the bottom portion of the apparatus body 72, the output tray 16 is inthe first output posture. In the lower figure in FIG. 10, when the firstleg portion 74 is pulled out from the apparatus body 72, the rotatingshaft 74 a and the gear 82A rotate in the same direction. The rotationof the gear 82A is transmitted to the gear 82B via the plurality ofgears of the gear train 82. Hence, the gear 82B and the rotating shaft16 a are also rotated. Consequently, the output tray 16 is rotated fromthe first output posture to the second output posture. Thus, theoutput-tray posture switching portion 78 can associate the rotationoperation of the first leg portion 74 with the rotation operation of theoutput tray 16.

The feed-tray posture switching portion 80 includes a gear train 84including a plurality of gears, and adjacent gears of the plurality ofgears in the gear train 84 are meshed with each other. In the gear train84, a gear 84A is provided coaxially with the rotating shaft 76 a of thesecond leg portion 76, and rotates together with the rotating shaft 76a. In contrast, in the gear train 84, a gear 84B is provided coaxiallywith the rotating shaft 14 b of the feed tray 14, and rotates togetherwith the rotating shaft 14 b.

In the upper figure in FIG. 10, when the second leg portion 76 is housedin the end portion on the rear surface side of the apparatus body 72,the feed tray 14 is in the first posture. In the lower figure in FIG.10, when the second leg portion 76 is pulled out from the apparatus body72, the rotating shaft 76 a and the gear 84A rotate in the samedirection. The rotation of the gear 84A is transmitted to the gear 84Bvia the plurality of gears of the gear train 84. Hence, the gear 84B andthe rotating shaft 14 b are also rotated. Consequently, the feed tray 14is rotated from the first posture to the second posture. Thus, thefeed-tray posture switching portion 80 can associate the rotationoperation of the second leg portion 76 with the rotation operation ofthe feed tray 14.

Therefore, in this embodiment, when the first leg portion 74 and thesecond leg portion 76 are rotated to switch the apparatus body 72 fromthe first posture to the second posture, or from the second posture tothe first posture, the feed tray 14 and the output tray 16 are alsoswitched to the postures suitable for the posture of the apparatus body72 in association with the rotation operations of the first leg portion74 and the second leg portion 76. Consequently, the user does not haveto perform the posture switching operations of the feed tray 14 and theoutput tray 16 in addition to the posture switching operation of theapparatus body 72, thereby increasing workability.

Although not shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the above-describedoutput-direction switching portion 48 and separation-roller displacingportion 56, described in the first embodiment, are also provided in thescanner 70 according to the third embodiment. When the first leg portion74 and the second leg portion 76 are rotated, the output-directionswitching portion 48 and the separation-roller displacing portion 56 areoperated in association with the switching of the postures of the feedtray 14 and the output tray 16.

The output-tray posture switching portion 78 switches the posture of theoutput tray 16 and the output-direction switching portion 48 switchesthe output direction of the medium in association with the switching ofthe posture of the apparatus body 72. With this configuration, the userdoes not have to manually switch the posture of the output tray 16 anddoes not have to manually switch the output direction of the medium P,and the scanner 70 with high usability can be provided.

The feed-tray posture switching portion 80 switches the posture of thefeed tray 14 and the separation-roller displacing portion 56 displacesthe separation roller 30 in association with the switching of theposture of the apparatus body 72. With this configuration, the user doesnot have to manually switch the posture of the feed tray 14 and does nothave to manually displace the separation roller 30, and the scanner 70with high usability can be provided.

Modification of Third Embodiment

In this embodiment, the gear train 82 performs the power transmissionfrom the first leg portion 74 to the output tray 16. However, instead ofthis configuration, another power transmission portion, such as anendless belt or a chain, may perform the power transmission. Similarly,instead of the gear train 84, another power transmission portion mayperform the power transmission from the second leg portion 76 to thefeed tray 14.

Fourth Embodiment

Instead of providing the base portion 44 included in the scanner 10according to the first embodiment, a scanner according to a fourthembodiment which is described below may have a first bottom surface 88 aand a second bottom surface 88 b. The configuration of a scanner 86according to the fourth embodiment is described below with reference toFIG. 11. The same reference sign is applied to a configuration similarto that in the first embodiment.

An apparatus body 88 of the scanner 86 has the first bottom surface 88 athat is supported by the mount surface G in the first posture (normalfeed posture), and the second bottom surface 88 b that is supported bythe mount surface G in the second posture (horizontal feed posture).

In the upper figure in FIG. 11, the scanner 86 is in the first posture,and the first bottom surface 88 a is supported by the mount surface G.As shown in the lower figure in FIG. 11, the apparatus body 88 isrotated clockwise in the lower figure in FIG. 11 from this state, andhence the second bottom surface 88 b is brought into contact with themount surface G. Thus, the bottom surface of the apparatus body 88supported by the mount surface G is switched from the first bottomsurface 88 a to the second bottom surface 88 b. That is, the switchingfrom the first posture to the second posture is performed in theapparatus body 88.

The feed tray 14 and the output tray 16 are rotated respectively aroundthe rotating shafts 14 b and 16 a as the rotation axes with theswitching of the posture of the apparatus body 88, and hence the feedtray 14 is switched from the first posture to the second posture and theoutput tray 16 is switched from the first output posture to the secondoutput posture. The thick lines with reference signs P7 and P8 in theupper and lower figures in FIG. 11 indicate feed paths for media whenthe scanner 86 is in the first posture and the second posture.

Fifth Embodiment

The above-described base portion 44 included in the scanner 10 accordingto the first embodiment may be replaced with a stand member 94 accordingto a fifth embodiment which is described below. The configuration of ascanner 90 according to the fifth embodiment is described below withreference to FIG. 12. The same reference sign is applied to aconfiguration similar to that in the first embodiment.

The scanner 90 according to this embodiment includes an apparatus body92, a feed tray 14, and an output tray 16. The feed tray 14 is rotatablerelative to the apparatus body 92 around a rotating shaft 14 b servingas a rotation axis like the first embodiment. The output tray 16 is alsorotatable relative to the apparatus body 92 around a rotating shaft 16 aserving as a rotation axis like the first embodiment.

The upper figure in FIG. 12 indicates the first posture of the scanner90. In this state, the feed tray 14 is in the first posture, and theoutput tray 16 is in the first output posture. As shown in the lowerfigure in FIG. 12, when the scanner 90 according to this embodiment isin the second posture, it is presupposed that the scanner 90 is usedwhile the scanner 90 is attached to the stand member 94. The solid linewith reference sign P9 in the upper figure in FIG. 12 indicates a feedpath for a medium when the scanner 90 is in the first posture (normalfeed posture). The solid line with reference sign P10 in the lowerfigure in FIG. 12 indicates a feed path for a medium when the scanner 90is in the second posture (horizontal feed posture).

In the lower figure in FIG. 12, the stand member 94 includes anapparatus-body attachment portion 94 a, a feed-tray support portion 94b, and an output-tray support portion 94 c. In the lower figure in FIG.12, although not shown, the stand member 94 is mounted on the mountsurface G.

In this embodiment, the apparatus-body attachment portion 94 a of thestand member 94 allows the apparatus body 92 to be attached in thesecond posture. In this embodiment, when the feed tray 14 in the firstposture is rotated to a position at which the feed tray 14 comes intocontact with the feed-tray support portion 94 b of the stand member 94while the apparatus body 92 is attached to the apparatus-body attachmentportion 94 a, the feed tray 14 is switched to the second posture.Moreover, the feed tray 14 is supported by the feed-tray support portion94 b and positioned. Thus, the feed tray 14 is not unintentionallyrotated from the second posture to the −Z side due to the weight ofmedia set on the feed tray 14, and the setting and feed of the media onthe feed tray 14 can be stably performed in the horizontal feed postureof the scanner 90.

When the output tray 16 in the first output posture is rotated to aposition at which the output tray 16 comes into contact with theoutput-tray support portion 94 c of the stand member 94 while theapparatus body 92 is attached to the apparatus-body attachment portion94 a, the output tray 16 is switched to the second output posture.Moreover, the output tray 16 is supported by the output-tray supportportion 94 c and positioned. Thus, the output tray 16 is notunintentionally rotated from the second output posture to the −Z sidedue to the weight of the tray or the weight of output media, and thenumber of media allowed to be stacked on the output tray 16 can beincreased and stacking efficiency of the output tray 16 can beincreased.

In the lower figure in FIG. 12, the two-dot chain line portion withreference sign 16 indicates the first output posture of the output tray16, and the solid line portion with reference sign 16-1 indicates thesecond output posture of the output tray 16, the two-dot chain lineportion with reference sign 14 indicates the first posture of the feedtray 14, and the solid line portion with reference sign 14-1 indicatesthe second posture of the feed tray 14.

Sixth Embodiment

The feed tray 14 included in the scanner 10 according to the firstembodiment may be replaced with a tray attachment portion and aplurality of types of feed trays that each can be attached to the trayattachment portion according to a sixth embodiment which is describedlater. The configuration of a scanner 96 according to the sixthembodiment is described below with reference to FIGS. 13 to 18. The samereference sign is applied to a configuration similar to that in thefirst embodiment. The scanner 96 according to this embodimentconstitutes an image reading system 97, together with a plurality offeed trays 106, 110, and 112, which are examples described later.

In this embodiment, an apparatus body 98 of the scanner 96 has a trayattachment portion 98 a. The tray attachment portion 98 a according tothis embodiment allows one of a plurality of types of feed trays to beattached thereto in accordance with the posture of the apparatus body98. In this embodiment, for example, an insertion portion of one of theplurality of types of feed trays is inserted into the tray attachmentportion 98 a and hence is attached to the apparatus body 98.Alternatively, the feed tray may be detachably attached to the apparatusbody 98 by another method.

In the upper figure in FIG. 13, the first-posture feed tray 106 isattached to the apparatus body 98 in the first posture. In thisembodiment, the tray attachment portion 98 a is provided at an endportion on the −Y side of the apparatus body 98, and is open to the −Yside. The first-posture feed tray 106 has an insertion portion 106 a ata distal end portion thereof. The insertion portion 106 a is insertedinto the tray attachment portion 98 a. The first-posture feed tray 106is detachably attached to the apparatus body 98 because the insertionportion 106 a is inserted into and attached to the tray attachmentportion 98 a. Note that the first-posture feed tray 106 is attached tothe apparatus body 98, at a first tilt angle 81 with respect to themount surface G.

In the lower figure in FIG. 13, the first-posture feed tray 106 isdetached and then the apparatus body 98 is attached to a stand member108 in the second posture. In this embodiment, the stand member 108includes an apparatus-body attachment portion 108 a and an output-traysupport portion 108 b. Although not shown in the lower figure in FIG. 13and the upper and lower figures in FIG. 14, the stand member 108 ismounted on the mount surface G. In the lower figure in FIG. 13, theoutput tray 16 is supported by the output-tray support portion 108 bwhile the rotating shaft 16 a serves as the rotation axis, and is in thesecond output posture.

In the upper figure in FIG. 14, the second-posture feed tray 110 isdetachably attached to the apparatus body 98. The second-posture feedtray 110 has an insertion portion 110 a at a distal end portion thereof.The insertion portion 110 a is inserted into the tray attachment portion98 a. The second-posture feed tray 110 is detachably attached to theapparatus body 98 because the insertion portion 110 a is inserted intoand attached to the tray attachment portion 98 a. Note that thesecond-posture feed tray 110 is attached to the apparatus body 98, at asecond tilt angle 82 with respect to the mount surface G.

In the lower figure in FIG. 14, the long-medium feed tray 112 isdetachably attached to the apparatus body 98. The long-medium feed tray112 has an insertion portion 112 a at a distal end portion thereof. Theinsertion portion 112 a is inserted into the tray attachment portion 98a. The long-medium feed tray 112 is detachably attached to the apparatusbody 98 because the insertion portion 112 a is inserted into andattached to the tray attachment portion 98 a.

By attaching the long-medium feed tray 112 in a state tilted downwardtoward the mount surface G, a long medium can be guided from a positionfurther close to the mount surface G. Further, as described above in thefirst embodiment, a frictional force that is generated between thelong-medium feed tray 112 and the long medium is decreased, the mediumcan be smoothly fed, and the medium is not damaged.

With the scanner 96 according to this embodiment, for example, one ofthe first-posture feed tray 106, the second-posture feed tray 110, andthe long-medium feed tray 112 can be selectively attached to the trayattachment portion 98 a of the apparatus body 98, in accordance with thechange in posture of the apparatus body 98 with respect to the mountsurface G on which the apparatus body 98 is mounted or the stand member108.

In this embodiment, as shown in the upper figure in FIG. 13 and theupper and lower figures in FIG. 14, the angles formed between theapparatus body 98 and the plurality of types of feed trays, for example,the first-posture feed tray 106, the second-posture feed tray 110, andthe long-medium feed tray 112 that each are attached to the trayattachment portion 98 a differ from one another.

Summarizing the above description, the scanner 96 includes the apparatusbody 98 having the image reading section 34 that reads a medium; and thefeed trays 106, 110, and 112 that each are provided at the apparatusbody 98 and that each support the medium set thereon. The apparatus body98 has the tray attachment portion 98 a that allows each of the feedtrays 106, 110, and 112 to be attached thereto. One of the feed trays106, 110, and 112 of the plurality of types with the different forms canbe selected in accordance with the change in posture of the apparatusbody 98 with respect to the mount surface G on which the apparatus body98 is mounted.

The image reading system 97 includes the scanner 96 having the trayattachment portion 98 a that allows each of the feed trays 106, 110, and112 that each support a medium set thereon to be attached to anddetached from the apparatus body 98 having the image reading section 34that reads the medium; and the plurality of feed trays 106, 110, and 112with the different forms each of which can be attached to and detachablefrom the tray attachment portion 98 a. One of the feed trays 106, 110,and 112 of the plurality of types can be selected in accordance with thechange in posture of the apparatus body 98 with respect to the mountsurface G on which the apparatus body 98 is mounted.

With the configurations of the image reading system 97 and the scanner96 according to this embodiment, one of the plurality of types of feedtrays with the different forms, for example, one of the feed trays 106,110, and 112 can be selected in accordance with the change in posture ofthe apparatus body 98 with respect to the mount surface G on which theapparatus body 98 is mounted. Thus, the needs of the user of setting amedium on the feed tray can be more flexibly satisfied.

The plurality of feed trays 106, 110, and 112 with the different formshave the different tilt angles with respect to the apparatus body 98.With this configuration, when the needs of the user who sets a medium onone of the feed trays 106, 110, and 112 are a change in posture of thefeed tray, this configuration satisfies the needs.

Modification of Second-Posture Feed Tray

Next, modifications of the second-posture feed tray are described withreference to FIGS. 15 to 18. In each drawing, illustration of the mountsurface G and the stand member 108 is omitted.

(1) A feed tray 114 in FIG. 15 has, for example, a flat support surface114 a without protrusions and depressions that supports a medium. Thus,with the scanner 96 in the second posture (horizontal feed posture), amedium P is not hooked to the feed tray 114 and is smoothly fed when themedium P is set on the feed tray 114, or when the medium P is fed fromthe feed tray 114.

In this modification, the plurality of feed trays with the differentforms include the feed tray 114 having the flat support surface 114 athat supports a medium. With this configuration, a medium is not hookedto the feed tray 114 when the medium is set on the feed tray 114.

(2) A feed tray 116 in FIG. 16 has a support surface 116 a not providedwith a pair of edge guides 120 (FIG. 17) that are movable in the X-axisdirection and that guide the side edges of a medium supported on thesupport surface 116 a. Thus, a medium is not hooked to the edge guideswhen the medium is set on the feed tray 116. In addition, when a mediumis set on the feed tray 116, if the edge guides 120 are located atpositions where the edge guides 120 disturb setting of the medium, theedge guides 120 have to be moved to positions where the edge guides 120do not disturb setting of the medium, thereby decreasing workability. Inthis modification, since the edge guides 120 are not provided, theworkability is not decreased.

In this modification, the plurality of feed trays with the differentforms include the feed tray 116 not provided with the edge guides 120that guide the side edges of a medium P set on the feed tray 116. Withthis configuration, a medium is not hooked to the edge guides 120 whenthe medium is set on the feed tray 116.

(3) A feed tray 118 in FIG. 17 has a support surface 118 a that allows apair of edge guides 120 to be attached to and detached from the supportsurface 118 a. In the upper figure in FIG. 17, the pair of edge guides120 are attached to the feed tray 118. In this state, the pair of edgeguides 120 are movable in the X-axis direction along the support surface118 a. The lower figure in FIG. 17 shows a state in which the pair ofedge guides 120 are detached from the feed tray 118. In thismodification, since the pair of edge guides 120 are attachable to anddetachable from the feed tray 118, when a medium is set on the feed tray118 or when a medium is fed from the feed tray 118, the pair of edgeguides 120 can be attached to and detached from the feed tray 118 asrequired, thereby increasing convenience of the feed tray 118.

(4) A feed tray 122 in FIG. 18 includes a pair of edge guides 124. Theedge guides 124 each include a guide portion 124 a and a rotating shaft124 b. The guide portions 124 a each are rotatable relative to the feedtray 122 around the rotating shaft 124 b as a rotation axis. In thismodification, the guide portions 124 a can be switched between a firststate (solid line portion in FIG. 18) in which the guide portions 124 arestrict the side edges of a medium supported by a support surface 122 aof the feed tray 122, and a second state (two-dot chain line portionwith reference sign 124 a-1 in FIG. 18) in which the protruding amountsof the guide portions 124 a from the support surface 122 a aredecreased.

In this modification, since the guide portions 124 a are located on the−Z side with respect to the support surface 122 a in a case where theguide portions 124 a are in the second state, when a medium is set onthe feed tray 122 or when a medium is fed from the feed tray 122 whilethe edge guides 124 are not used, the medium is not hooked to the edgeguides 124.

The plurality of feed trays with the different forms include the feedtray 122 provided with the edge guides 124 that guide the side edges ofa medium P set thereon. The guide portions 124 a that constitute theedge guides 124 and that restrict the side edges of the medium P can beswitched between the first state in which the guide portions 124 arestrict the side edges, and the second state in which the guideportions 124 a fall from the first state and the protruding amounts ofthe guide portions 124 a from the support surface 122 a that supportsthe medium are decreased. With this configuration, when a medium P isset on the feed tray 122, the medium is not hooked to the edge guides124.

Seventh Embodiment

The above-described feed tray 14 included in the scanner 10 according tothe first embodiment may include a tray posture detector 132 accordingto a seventh embodiment which is described below. The configuration of ascanner 126 according to the seventh embodiment is described below withreference to FIGS. 19 to 21. The same reference sign is applied to aconfiguration similar to that in the first embodiment.

The scanner 126 according to this embodiment includes an apparatus body128, a feed tray 130, and an output tray 16. Also in this embodiment,the output tray 16 is rotatable around a rotating shaft 16 a as arotation axis, and can be switched between a first output posture(posture with reference sign 16 in the upper figure in FIG. 19) and asecond output posture (posture with reference sign 16-1 in the lowerfigure in FIG. 19).

In this embodiment, the feed tray 130 is rotatable around a rotatingshaft 130 a as a rotation axis, and can be switched between a firstposture (posture with reference sign 130 in the upper figure in FIG. 19)and a second posture (posture with reference sign 130-1 in the lowerfigure in FIG. 19).

The feed tray 130 is provided with the tray posture detector 132. Inthis embodiment, the tray posture detector 132 is, for example, a tiltsensor or an acceleration detection sensor. When the feed tray 130 isrotated around the rotating shaft 130 a as the rotation axis, the trayposture detector 132 detects a change in posture of the feed tray 130.For example, the tray posture detector 132 detects the tilt angle of thefeed tray 130 with respect to the mount surface G. Thus, the controller42 determines whether the feed tray 130 is in the first posture or thesecond posture.

In this embodiment, the controller 42 (FIG. 2) performs at least one ofcontrol on the pressing force of the separation roller 30 against thefeed roller 28 (described later) and control on the separation load ofthe separation roller 30 based on posture detection information on thefeed tray 130 from the tray posture detector 132.

The scanner 126 includes the tray posture detector 132 that detects theposture of the feed tray 130 with respect to the mount surface G. Thecontroller 42 changes the feed conditions when a medium P is fed fromthe feed tray 130 based on the detection information from the trayposture detector 132. With this configuration, by setting the feedconditions suitable for the posture of the feed tray 130, proper feedcan be performed.

Control on Pressing Force of Separation Roller 30 Against Feed Roller 28

The control on the pressing force of the separation roller 30 againstthe feed roller 28 is described with reference to FIG. 20. The apparatusbody 128 according to this embodiment is provided with a pressingportion 134 therein. The pressing portion 134 includes a pressing member136, an engagement member 138, and a cam member 140. The pressing member136 is, for example, a coil spring.

One end of the pressing member 136 is engaged with the rotating shaft 30a of the separation roller 30, and the other end thereof is engaged withthe engagement member 138. The engagement member 138 is engaged with thecam member 140. In this embodiment, the cam member 140 is rotationallydriven by a driving source (not shown) provided in the apparatus body128. Note that the driving source (not shown) is controlled by thecontroller 42, and the cam member 140 is controlled by the controller 42via the driving source (not shown). In this embodiment, the pressingmember 136 presses the separation roller 30 against the feed roller 28via the rotating shaft 30 a.

When the controller 42 determines that the feed tray 130 is in the firstposture based on the detection information from the tray posturedetector 132, the controller 42 brings the cam member 140 into a firststate (upper figure in FIG. 20). In this state, the pressing member 136presses the rotating shaft 30 a with a first pressing force F1. That is,the separation roller 30 presses the feed roller 28 with the firstpressing force F1.

In contrast, when the controller 42 determines that the feed tray 130 isin the second posture based on the detection information from the trayposture detector 132, the controller 42 rotationally drives the cammember 140 by using the driving source (not shown), and switches the cammember 140 from the first state (upper figure in FIG. 20) to a secondstate (lower figure in FIG. 20). In this state, the pressing member 136is compressed between the rotating shaft 30 a and the engagement member138. Consequently, the pressing member 136 presses the rotating shaft 30a with a second pressing force F2 that is larger than the first pressingforce F1. That is, the separation roller 30 presses the feed roller 28with the second pressing force F2 that is larger than the first pressingforce F1.

In this embodiment, the controller 42 adjusts the pressing force of theseparation roller 30 against the feed roller 28 based on the detectioninformation from the tray posture detector 132. In this case, with thescanner 126 according to this embodiment, when a medium is fed in thesecond posture (horizontal feed posture), the back tension of the mediumis increased by the weight of the medium. Consequently, the feed forcefor feeding the medium is decreased, and non-feed of the medium mayoccur. In this embodiment, when the apparatus body 128 and the feed tray130 are in the second posture (horizontal feed posture), the pressingforce F2 of the separation roller 30 against the feed roller 28 islarger than the pressing force F1 in the first posture, and hence thedecrease in the feed force for feeding the medium can be suppressed, andnon-feed of the medium can be suppressed.

The scanner 126 includes the feed roller 28 that sends a medium P fromthe feed tray 130; the separation roller 30 that separates the medium Pby nipping the medium P between the separation roller 30 and the feedroller 28; and the pressing portion 134 that can adjust the pressingforce by which the separation roller 30 is pressed against the feedroller 28. The feed conditions include the magnitude of the pressingforce, and the controller 42 adjusts the pressing force of the pressingportion 134 based on the detection information from the tray posturedetector 132. With this configuration, by setting the pressing force tothe magnitude suitable for the posture of the feed tray 130, proper feedcan be performed.

Control on Separation Load of Separation Roller 30

Referring to FIG. 21, the control on the separation load of theseparation roller 30 is described. In this embodiment, a torque limiter142 serving as “a rotation-resistance applying portion” is provided onthe rotating shaft 30 a of the separation roller 30. The torque limiter142 includes a coil spring 144, and gears 146A and 146B.

In this embodiment, the rotating shaft 30 a of the separation roller 30is inserted into the coil spring 144 of the torque limiter 142. On endportion 144 a of the coil spring 144 is engaged with the gear 146A. Thegear 146A and the gear 146B are meshed with each other, and the gear146B is rotationally driven by a driving unit (not shown).

The upper figure in FIG. 21 shows the state of the torque limiter 142when the feed tray 130 is in the first posture. When the controller 42determines that the feed tray 130 is in the first posture based on thedetection information from the tray posture detector 132, the controller42 rotates the gear 146A and the gear 146B by using the driving unit(not shown), and hence sets the inner diameter of the coil spring 144 toa diameter d1. Thus, the coil spring 144 applies a predeterminedtightening force against the rotating shaft 30 a (rotation resistanceagainst the rotating shaft 30 a) of the separation roller 30.

In contrast, as shown in the lower figure in FIG. 21, when thecontroller 42 determines that the feed tray 130 is in the second posturebased on the detection information from the tray posture detector 132,the controller 42 rotates the gear 146A and the gear 146B by using thedriving unit (not shown), and hence sets the inner diameter of the coilspring 144 to a diameter d2 that is larger than the diameter d1. Thus,the tightening force (rotation resistance) by the coil spring 144against the rotating shaft 30 a of the separation roller 30 can besmaller than the tightening force (rotation resistance) in the firstposture. Consequently, in the second posture of the feed tray 130, theseparation load that acts between the feed roller 28 and the separationroller 30 can be smaller than the separation load in the first postureof the feed tray 130, and hence non-feed of a medium can be suppressed.

In this embodiment, the controller 42 uses, for example, the magnitudeof the tightening force (rotation resistance) by the torque limiter 142,as a feed condition of a medium, and adjusts the rotation resistance bythe torque limiter 142 (tightening force by the coil spring 144) basedon the detection information from the tray posture detector 132.

The scanner 126 includes the feed roller 28 that sends a medium P fromthe feed tray 130; the separation roller 30 that separates the medium Pby nipping the medium P between the separation roller 30 and the feedroller 28;

and the torque limiter 142 that applies a rotation resistance to theseparation roller 30. The torque limiter 142 can adjust the rotationresistance. The feed conditions include the magnitude of the rotationresistance. The controller 42 adjusts the rotation resistance by thetorque limiter 142 based on the detection information from the trayposture detector 132.

With the configuration, since the feed conditions include the magnitudeof the rotation resistance, and the controller 42 adjusts the rotationresistance by the torque limiter 142 based on the detection informationfrom the tray posture detector 132, proper feed can be provided bysetting the rotation resistance to the magnitude suitable for theposture of the feed tray 130.

Eighth Embodiment

The above-described base portion 44 included in the scanner 10 accordingto the first embodiment may be replaced with a posture adjustment base152 according to an eighth embodiment which is described below. Theconfiguration of a scanner 148 according to the eighth embodiment isdescribed below with reference to FIG. 22. Note that the XYZ coordinateaxes in FIG. 22 are not based on the scanner 148, and are based on themount surface G and the posture adjustment base 152. The X-axisdirection indicates an apparatus-width direction, the Y-axis directionindicates an apparatus-depth direction, and the Z-axis directionindicates an apparatus-height direction (vertical direction). In thefollowing description, the same reference sign is applied to aconfiguration similar to that in the first embodiment.

The scanner 148 according to this embodiment includes an apparatus body150, a feed tray 14, and an output tray 16. The feed tray 14 and theoutput tray 16 are rotatable relative to the apparatus body 150 like thefirst embodiment. In this embodiment, the apparatus body 150 is attachedto the posture adjustment base 152. The posture adjustment base 152 ismounted on the mount surface G. In this embodiment, the X axis in theapparatus-width direction is set to a first axis, the Z axis in thevertical direction is set to a second axis, and the Y axis orthogonal tothe first axis and the second axis is set to a third axis.

The posture adjustment base 152 includes a first-axis adjustment portion152 a that rotates the apparatus body 150 around the first axis (bydesirable rotation angle 8X), and hence adjusts the posture of theapparatus body 150 around the first axis; a third-axis adjustmentportion 152 b that rotates the apparatus body 150 and the first-axisadjustment portion 152 a around the third axis (by desirable rotationangle 8Y), and hence adjusts the posture of the apparatus body 150around the third axis; and a second-axis adjustment portion 152 c thatrotates the apparatus body 150, the first-axis adjustment portion 152 a,and the third-axis adjustment portion 152 b around the second axis (bydesirable rotation angle θZ), and hence adjusts the posture of theapparatus body 150 around the second axis.

In this embodiment, not only the apparatus body 150 is switched (rotatedaround the first axis) from the first posture (normal feed posture) tothe second posture (horizontal feed posture), but also the apparatusbody 150 can be rotated also around the second axis and the third axis.Thus, the posture of the scanner 148 can be optimal for the work of theuser. Note that arrows around the respective axes in FIG. 22 indicaterotational directions.

Summarizing the above description, the apparatus body 150 can perform,in addition to the switching of the posture with the rotation of theapparatus body 150 around the first axis (X axis) along the medium-widthdirection which is the direction intersecting with the feed direction ofa medium P, at least one of the switching of the posture with therotation of the apparatus body 150 around the second axis (Z axis) alongthe vertical direction, and the switching of the posture with therotation of the apparatus body 150 around the third axis (Y axis)orthogonal to both the first axis and the second axis. With thisconfiguration, the user can bring the apparatus body 150 andconsequently the scanner 148 into the apparatus posture that allows theuser to easily perform operation, thereby further increasing usability.

Ninth Embodiment

In addition to the above-described base portion 44 included in thescanner 10 according to the first embodiment, a height adjuster 158according to a ninth embodiment which is described below may beprovided. The configuration of a scanner 154 according to the ninthembodiment is described below with reference to FIG. 23. In thefollowing description, the same reference sign is applied to aconfiguration similar to that in the first embodiment.

In this embodiment, an apparatus body 156 of the scanner 154 isrotatably supported by a base portion 44. The height adjuster 158 isprovided on the −Z side of the base portion 44. The height adjuster 158is, for example, a Z-axis stage, and includes a stage portion 158 a, aplurality of link members 158 b, and a handle 158 c. The apparatus body156 and the base portion 44 are mounted on the stage portion 158 a. Inthis embodiment, the upper figure in FIG. 23 shows a lowered state(jacked down state) of the height adjuster 158.

In the upper figure in FIG. 23, by rotating the handle 158 c, theplurality of link members 158 b are displaced, and the stage portion 158a is lifted. Thus, the apparatus body 156 and the base portion 44 arelifted to the +Z side by the stage portion 158 a, and is brought into alifted state (jacked up state) of the height adjuster 158 shown in thelower figure in FIG. 23.

In this embodiment, since the height of the stage portion 158 a can beadjusted in accordance with the rotation amount of the handle 158 c, thescanner 154 can be set to a desirable height position, and the scanner154 can be set to a height that allows the user to easily performoperation.

The apparatus body 156 can adjust the height with respect to the mountsurface G in the vertical direction. With this configuration, since theapparatus body 156 includes the height adjuster 158 that can adjust theheight with respect to the mount surface G in the vertical direction,the apparatus height can be set to a height that allows the user toeasily perform operation, thereby further increasing usability.

Modification of Ninth Embodiment

In this embodiment, the height adjuster 158 that vertically moves withthe link mechanism is provided on the −Z side of the base portion 44.However, instead of this configuration, screw members (for example,screws or bolts) may be provided at four corners of the base portion 44or a support plate (not shown) that supports the base portion 44. Thebase portion 44 or the support plate may be vertically moved by rotatingthe screw members, and hence the scanner 154 may be adjusted to adesirable height.

Tenth Embodiment

The above-described user interface portion 22 included in the scanner 10according to the first embodiment may be replaced with a tilt panel 164according to a tenth embodiment which is described below. Theconfiguration of a scanner 160 according to the tenth embodiment isdescribed below with reference to FIGS. 24 and 25. In the followingdescription, the same reference sign is applied to a configurationsimilar to that in the first embodiment.

The scanner 160 according to this embodiment includes an apparatus body162, a feed tray 14, an output tray 16, a base portion 44, the tiltpanel 164, and a tilt-panel posture adjuster 166. The feed tray 14 andthe output tray 16 are rotatable relative to the apparatus body 150 likethe first embodiment.

Referring to FIGS. 24 and 25, a recessed tilt-panel housing portion 162a is formed on the front surface side of the apparatus body 162. Thetilt-panel housing portion 162 a can house the tilt panel 164, and thetilt-panel posture adjuster 166. FIG. 24 shows a state in which the tiltpanel 164 is raised up to the +Y side by the tilt-panel posture adjuster166 from a state (not shown) in which the tilt panel 164 and thetilt-panel posture adjuster 166 are housed in the tilt-panel housingportion 162 a.

In this embodiment, the tilt panel 164 is attached to the tilt-panelposture adjuster 166 via a rotating shaft 164 a. The tilt panel 164 isrotatable in a direction with arrow R1 shown in FIG. 24 around therotating shaft 164 a as a rotation axis. Further, the tilt-panel postureadjuster 166 includes a plurality of rotating shafts (not shown). Forexample, the tilt-panel posture adjuster 166 is rotatable in directionswith arrows R2 and R3 shown in FIGS. 24 and 25 relative to the apparatusbody 162.

Referring to FIG. 24, in the state in which the tilt panel 164 is raisedup from the tilt-panel housing portion 162 a, by rotating the tilt panel164 relative to the tilt-panel posture adjuster 166, the tilt panel 164can be set to an angle at which the user can easily view the tilt panel164.

Referring to FIG. 25, the apparatus body 162 and the feed tray 14 are inthe second posture, and the output tray 16 is also in the second outputposture. Even in this state, by raising up the tilt panel 164 from thetilt-panel housing portion 162 a along the direction with arrow R3 androtating the tilt-panel posture adjuster 166 around the axis line(direction with arrow R2) in the vertical direction of the mount surfaceG, for example, the scanner 160 can be operated even when the user islocated on the −X side of the apparatus body 162, and convenience of thescanner 160 can be increased. Moreover, by properly adjusting thepostures of the tilt panel 164 and the tilt-panel posture adjuster 166,visibility of the tilt panel 164 from the user can be increased.

The apparatus body 162 includes the tilt panel 164 that can be tilted.With this configuration, even when the posture of the apparatus body 162is switched, the visibility of the tilt panel 164 can be ensured.

Eleventh Embodiment

The scanner 10 according to the first embodiment may include a firstlight-shielding member 172 and a second light-shielding member 174according to an eleventh embodiment which is described below. Theconfiguration of a scanner 168 according to the eleventh embodiment isdescribed below with reference to FIGS. 26 and 27. In the followingdescription, the same reference sign is applied to a configurationsimilar to that in the first embodiment.

In the upper figure in FIG. 26, reference sign LR1 denotes an entryrange of light entering an apparatus body 170 through a feed port 27,and reference sign LR2 denotes an entry range of light entering theapparatus body 170 through an output port 24. In this case, as shown inthe lower figure in FIG. 26, when the apparatus body 170 is switchedfrom the first posture to the second posture, when the feed tray 14 isswitched from the first posture to the second posture, and when theoutput tray 16 is switched from the first output posture to the secondoutput posture, the entry range of light entering the apparatus body 170is expanded. Note that reference sign LR3 denotes an entry range oflight expanded on the side of the feed tray 14, and reference sign LR4denotes an entry range of light expanded on the side of the output tray16.

When the entry range of light entering the apparatus body 170 isexpanded, the light entering the apparatus body 170 reaches the imagereading section 34, image reading quality by the image reading section34 may be decreased, and the reading result of a medium may be degraded.

Referring to FIG. 27, the apparatus body 170 includes the firstlight-shielding member 172 and the second light-shielding member 174. Inthis embodiment, the first light-shielding member 172 is provided at aposition corresponding to the feed port 27. The first light-shieldingmember 172 can be switched between a housed state (upper figure in FIG.27) housed in the apparatus body 170, and a protruding state protrudingfrom the apparatus body 170, in association with the switching betweenthe first posture and the second posture of the feed tray 14, by usingan association portion 176 (FIG. 28, described later).

In the lower figure in FIG. 27, when the first light-shielding member172 protrudes from the apparatus body 170, at least part of the firstlight-shielding member 172 enters the entry range LR1 of light, blockspart of light entering the apparatus body 170, and decreases the amountof light entering the apparatus body 170. Note that a range withreference sign LC1 in the lower figure in FIG. 27 is a restriction rangein which the entry of light into the apparatus body 170 is blocked bythe first light-shielding member 172.

In this embodiment, the second light-shielding member 174 is provided ata position corresponding to the output port 24. The secondlight-shielding member 174 can be switched between a housed state (upperfigure in FIG. 27) housed in the apparatus body 170, and a protrudingstate protruding from the apparatus body 170, in association with theswitching between the first output posture and the second output postureof the output tray 16, by using an association portion (not shown).

In the lower figure in FIG. 27, when the second light-shielding member174 protrudes from the apparatus body 170, at least part of the secondlight-shielding member 174 enters the entry range LR2 of light, blockspart of light entering the apparatus body 170, and decreases the amountof light entering the apparatus body 170. Note that a range withreference sign LC2 in the lower figure in FIG. 27 is a restriction rangein which the entry of light into the apparatus body 170 is blocked bythe second light-shielding member 174.

Thus, since the amount of light entering the apparatus body 170 throughthe feed port 27 and the output port 24 can be decreased by the firstlight-shielding member 172 and the second light-shielding member 174,the decrease in image reading quality by the image reading section 34can be suppressed, and the degradation in the reading result of a mediumcan be suppressed.

As shown in FIG. 28, the association portion 176 according to thisembodiment includes a gear 178, a gear 180A, a gear 180B, an endlessbelt 182, and a rack 172 a provided on the first light-shielding member172. The gear 178 is coaxially provided with the rotating shaft 14 b ofthe feed tray 14, and rotates together with the rotating shaft 14 b inthe same direction. The gear 180A and the gear 180B are constituted as acompound gear. The endless belt 182 is wound around the gear 178 and thegear 180A. The gear 180B and the rack 172 a are meshed with each other,and form rack and pinion.

In the upper figure in FIG. 28, when the feed tray 14 is in the firstposture, the first light-shielding member 172 is in the housed state. Asshown in the lower figure in FIG. 28, when the feed tray 14 is switchedfrom the first posture to the second posture, the rotating shaft 14 brotates in a direction with an arrow in the lower figure in FIG. 28.Thus, the gear 178 rotates together with the rotating shaft 14 b. Therotation of the gear 178 is transmitted to the gears 180A and 180B thatconstitute a compound gear by using the endless belt 182. Consequently,the gear 180B rotates, and the first light-shielding member 172 isswitched from the housed state to the protruding state via the rack 172a. Note that when the feed tray 14 is switched from the second postureto the first posture, the first light-shielding member 172 is switchedfrom the protruding state to the housed state by the association portion176. Although not shown, the second light-shielding member 174 also hasa similar association portion, and is associated with the rotationoperation of the output tray 16.

The scanner 168 includes the output tray 16 that receives a medium Pwhich is output thereon; the feed port 27 that is of the apparatus body170 and into which the medium P set on the feed tray 14 is inserted; theoutput port 24 that is of the apparatus body 170 and from which themedium P is output to the output tray 16; the first light-shieldingmember 172 that can be switched between the protruding state protrudingfrom the apparatus body 170 and the housed state housed in the apparatusbody 170, and that, in the protruding state, decreases the amount oflight entering the apparatus body 170 via the feed port 27; and thesecond light-shielding member 174 that can be switched between theprotruding state protruding from the apparatus body 170 and the housedstate housed in the apparatus body 170, and that, in the protrudingstate, decreases the amount of light entering the apparatus body 170 viathe output port 24. The first light-shielding member 172 and the secondlight-shielding member 174 are switched between the protruding state andthe housed state in accordance with the switching of the posture of theapparatus body 170 with respect to the mount surface G.

With the above-described configuration, the scanner 168 includes thefirst light-shielding member 172 that decreases the amount of lightentering the apparatus body 170 via the feed port 27; and the secondlight-shielding member 174 that decreases the amount of light enteringthe apparatus body 170 via the output port 24. The first light-shieldingmember 172 and the second light-shielding member 174 are switchedbetween the protruding state and the housed state in accordance with theswitching of the posture of the apparatus body 170 with respect to themount surface G. Thus, the degradation in the reading result due to theinfluence of light entering the apparatus body 170 via the feed port 27or the output port 24 can be suppressed. Also, the user does not have tooperate the first light-shielding member 172 and the secondlight-shielding member 174 in accordance with the posture of theapparatus body 170, the scanner 168 with high usability can be provided.

Modification of Eleventh Embodiment

In this embodiment, the first light-shielding member 172 and the secondlight-shielding member 174 are associated with the switching of thepostures of the feed tray 14 and the output tray 16. However, instead ofthis configuration, the first light-shielding member 172 and the secondlight-shielding member 174 may be switched from the housed state to theprotruding state when the medium feed path 26 extending from the feedtray 14 to the output tray 16 is in the horizontal posture.Specifically, when the body posture detector 46 detects that theapparatus body 170 is switched from the first posture to the secondposture, the controller 42 may switch the first light-shielding member172 and the second light-shielding member 174 from the housed state tothe protruding state by a driving unit (not shown) based on detectioninformation from the body posture detector 46.

According to another embodiment, a light-amount detection sensor thatdetects the light amount in the medium feed path 26 may be provided inthe apparatus body 170. When the posture of the apparatus body 170 isswitched from the first posture to the second posture, if thelight-amount detection sensor detects an increase in the amount of lightentering the apparatus body 170, the controller 42 may switch the firstlight-shielding member 172 and the second light-shielding member 174from the housed state to the protruding state by a driving unit (notshown). The controller 42 may switch the first light-shielding member172 and the second light-shielding member 174 from the protruding stateto the housed state by the driving unit (not shown) when the apparatusbody 170 is switched from the second posture to the first posture.Alternatively, the dedicated light-amount detection sensor may not beprovided in the apparatus body 170, and at least one of the firstreading unit 40A and the second reading unit 40B of the image readingsection 34 may serve as the light-amount detection sensor.

The invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and canbe modified within the scope of the invention described in the claims.It is clear that such modifications are also included in the scope ofthe invention.

The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-210114,filed Oct. 31, 2017, is expressly incorporated by reference herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. An image reading apparatus, comprising: anapparatus body including a reader that reads a medium; an output traythat is provided at the apparatus body and that receives the mediumwhich is output thereon; an output roller pair that outputs the mediumonto the output tray; an output-tray posture switching portion thatswitches a posture of the output tray with respect to the apparatusbody; and an output-direction switching portion that switches an outputdirection of the medium by using the output roller pair.
 2. The imagereading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the output roller pairincludes an output driving roller that is rotationally driven, and anoutput driven roller that nips the medium between the output drivenroller and the output driving roller and that follows the rotation ofthe output driving roller, and wherein the output-direction switchingportion switches the output direction of the medium by displacing arotation center of the output driven roller around a rotation center ofthe output driving roller.
 3. The image reading apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the output-direction switching portion is provideddownstream of the output roller pair, and switches the output directionof the medium by coming into contact with the medium and changing anadvance direction of the medium.
 4. The image reading apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the output-tray posture switching portionswitches the posture of the output tray and the output-directionswitching portion switches the output direction of the medium inassociation with switching of a posture of the apparatus body.
 5. Animage reading apparatus, comprising: an apparatus body including areader that reads a medium; a feed tray that is provided at theapparatus body and that supports the medium which is set thereon; and afeed-tray posture switching portion that switches a posture of the feedtray with respect to a mount surface.
 6. The image reading apparatusaccording to claim 5, wherein the feed-tray posture switching portionswitches the posture of the feed tray in association with switching of aposture of the apparatus body.
 7. The image reading apparatus accordingto claim 5, further comprising: a feed roller that sends the medium fromthe feed tray; a separation roller that nips the medium between theseparation roller and the feed roller and hence that separates themedium; and a separation-roller displacing portion that displaces arotation center of the separation roller around a rotation center of thefeed roller.
 8. The image reading apparatus according to claim 7,wherein the feed-tray posture switching portion switches the posture ofthe feed tray and the separation-roller displacing portion displaces theseparation roller in association with switching of a posture of theapparatus body.
 9. An image reading system, comprising: an image readingapparatus including a tray attachment portion that allows a feed traythat supports a medium which is set thereon to be attachable to anddetachable from an apparatus body including a reader that reads themedium; and a plurality of the feed trays that have different forms andthat each are attachable to and detachable from the tray attachmentportion, wherein one of the feed trays of a plurality of types isattachable in accordance with a change in posture of the apparatus bodywith respect to a mount surface on which the apparatus body is mounted.10. The image reading system according to claim 9, wherein the pluralityof feed trays with the different forms have different tilt angles withrespect to the apparatus body.
 11. The image reading system according toclaim 9, wherein the plurality of feed trays with the different formsinclude a feed tray having a flat support surface that supports themedium.
 12. The image reading system according to claim 9, wherein theplurality of feed trays with the different forms include a feed tray notprovided with edge guides that guide side edges of the medium which isset on the feed tray.
 13. The image reading system according to claim 9,wherein the plurality of feed trays with the different forms include afeed tray provided with edge guides that guide side edges of the mediumwhich is set on the feed tray, and wherein guide portions thatconstitute the edge guides and that restrict the side edges areconfigured to be switched between a first state in which the guideportions restrict the side edges, and a second state in which the guideportions are displaced from the first state and protruding amounts ofthe guide portions from a support surface that supports the medium aresmaller than protruding amounts of the guide portions from the supportsurface in the first state.